Aerial torpedo.



J. W. CURR'BLL.

AERIAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2, 1908. I 981,069. Patented Jan. 10,1911.

m w m W W I l 5' w I witnuoe o JOHN W. CURRELL, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

AERIAL TORIPEDO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan, 10, 1911.

Application filed December 2, 1908. Serial No. 465,663.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN \V. CURRELL, a citizen of .the United States, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aerial Torpedo'es, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in aerial torpedoes and consists in providing sucha torpedo with a lock which will prevent accidental discharge of the same.

In the drawings: Figure 1 represents in elevation and section a portion of a torpedo provided with the invention. Fig. 2, a lock to prevent accidental discharge. Fig. 3, a transverse diametric section of the device without the lock.

In these drawings: the numeral 1 represents an ordinary torpedo. At the operative end 2 there is inserted in the torpedo 1 the usual stock 3 carrying the casing 4 with the fullninate 5 contained therein. At the base of the casing 4 is the primer plug 6 having the passage 7 and'the cap 8, the passageleading from the cap 8 to the casing 4 containing the fulminate 5. In a chamber 9 below the head 6 there is placed the plunger 10 having the firing point 11 in line with the cap 8. This plunger 10 is held in place by the usual shear wire 12. The plunger 10 passes out through the bottom of the stock 3 and has its lower end 13 sharpened to form a sticking point 14.

Secured to the protruding end 13 of the plunger 10 is the inverted cup-shaped head 15. This head has a central threaded hole 16, the threads engaging corresponding threads 17' around the protruding end 13 of the plunger 10. The threads 17 are a little distance from the end of the stock 3, forming a neck 18 when the head is in place on the end of the plunger 10. A

clamp ring 19 composed of two members 20,

20 hinged at 21 is fitted to the neck 18 and has the spring 22 to keep the rim clamped about the neck 18. Normally the c amp ring 19 is about the neck 18 so as to space the head 15 from the end of the stock 3 and prevent accidental .explosion of the fulminate. When ready for use the clamp ring is removed, as indicated in Fig. 3.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

In a torpedo, the combination of the stock, the plunger contained therein and protruding therefrom and provided with a head spaced from the end of the stock, and a lock adapted to the space between the stock and head.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. CURRELL.

Witnesses:

F. L. OURAND, W. G. JONES. 

